Clwyd MS urges Welsh Government to tackle dentistry 'crisis'

Darren Millar, Clwyd MS, raised the issue in the Senedd during this week’s business statement, calling for action from the health and care cabinet minister and warning that people are turning to desperate measures due to a lack of NHS dental care.

He said: "As the Trefnydd will know, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals in Wales that are not currently registered with an NHS dentist, and many people are having to take matters into their own hands with pliers, or travelling outside of Wales for their treatment, sometimes even overseas.

"This includes people in my constituency of Clwyd who have lost access to NHS dentistry in recent years, including the patients of two local clinics in the Abergele area that have closed in recent months."

Mr Millar criticised the previous Labour government for introducing the current NHS dental contract in Wales, arguing that it has contributed to the situation.

He said: "That clearly needs looking at again in order to make it more attractive for people to join NHS dentistry and to keep their NHS contracts going.

"We need to know what action the Welsh Government is going to take to address this rising tide and exodus, and I'd be grateful to know what action is going to be taken, and if a statement could come forward."

Responding, the Welsh Government’s business manager said: "The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care is ensuring that there is a review being done of the new contract in the autumn, and the dental access portal helps people to find a dentist as well.

"I do recognise that there are challenges here, and we are committed to addressing them."

Following the meeting, Mr Millar said: "I've said it time and time again, it is absolutely barbaric that in this day and age people are having to pull out their own teeth because they can't get in with a dentist.

"The dental crisis facing our communities here in Clwyd, and indeed across the whole of Wales, needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency."